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Things to Do in Hawaii

Hawai‘i is an island nation rich in beauty, in culture, and in diversity of people, all of which contribute to the spirit of aloha. We hope that you will be able to enjoy all that our islands have to offer. The links below will take you to some of the many ways to make your visit here a memorable one. Enjoy!

Theme Parks

Located on the east tip of Oahu, Sea Life Park is Hawaii’s famous marine park features 300,000 gallon aquarium, dolphins, turtles, sea lions, and more. Most of the activities and programs are wheelchair friendly. Facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Dole Plantation has the world’s largest maze officially recognized in the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records. It also provides educational plantation garden tour where you can see hundreds of plants and trees that are native species.

Highly respected as the third oldest aquarium in the United States, Waikiki Aquarium is located in convenient Waikiki. The aquarium exhibits some 3,500 marine animals, including endangered Hawaiian monk seals, reef sharks, sea lions, tropical fish and a variety more of aquatic life. The facility caters to most and offers excellent accessibility.

Just a short walk from Waikiki Beach, the Honolulu Zoo is home to a wide collection of mammals, reptiles, and birds, stretching from Hawaii’s animal kingdom to the rest of the world. It is here where you’ll be able to encounter Indian Elephants, African Lions, Nene (Hawaiian geese), Nile Crocodiles, Orangutans and much more. The zoo is fully accessible.

Museums/ Galleries

Come explore the fine arts exhibits at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the largest private presenter of visual arts programs, boasting a permanent collection of over 38,000 works of art from cultures around the world. The museum is wheel-chair accessible to most of the exhibits but reservations are required for the parking.

Enjoy your day at the Hawaii State Art Museum. It is here where you will find a beautiful collection of art work done by Hawaii’s artists. The State Museum serves as a fitting scene to host the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ collection. Find yourself getting immersed and inspired by the rich artistic legacy, the Hawaiian Islands have to offer. Most of the museum is wheel-chair accessible.

Land Adventures

Locates northeastern side of Oahu, Kualoa Ranch offers ranch tours and outdoor activities including horseback riding, yakking, and ATV riding. Some activities may not be participated depending on disabilities.

Water Activities

AccesSurf Instruction is designed to provide ocean access to empower its participants to their highest level of independence in the water. Designed and lead by certified therapeutic recreation therapists, medical professionals, professional surfers, and trained volunteers, these services provide safe activities and therapeutic instruction in surfing, standup paddling, snorkeling and swimming/flotation.

We invite anyone with a disability, whether physical or mental, and their family members to participate in these activities to discover their own level of abilities in the ocean.

Do you want to Learn More about Hawaiian History?

Recognized as the State Museum of Natural and Cultural History, the Bishop Museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits, stemming from Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. The museum offers daily shows and tours; its exhibits vary throughout the year. Planetarium shows are offered in the evening, in which you must reserve seating in advance. Exhibits and event areas are wheel-chair accessible.

Experience walking down the same halls where Hawaii’s royalty once resided. At the historical ‘Iolani Palace, you’ll learn about key moments in Hawaii’s history, including the imprisonment of Queen Lili‘uokalani and events leading up to Hawaii’s annexation. This National Historic Landmark has been beautifully restored to its former glory, and welcomes all. All public areas of the ‘Iolani Palace are wheelchair accessible. With advance notice, ‘Iolani Palace offers American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter tours, for those who are deaf and hard of hearing, and special touch tours, designed for those who are blind and partially-sighted.